Lionel Messi is one of the best players to have ever graced the beautiful game of football, and fans love him to the hilt, the way he excels and entertains everyone with his skills on the pitch. Messi's fans in Argentina were shocked after his decision to retire from international football, and they have now poured onto the streets, asking him to reconsider this decision.
However, not only the fans, high-profiled personalities from Argentina including legend Diego Maradona and President Mauricio Macri also want to see Messi play for the national team for few more years. The fans taking it to the streets in pouring rain on Saturday, shouting slogans, asking him to come out of retirement, reflects how important the player is to the national team. Make no mistake, he is also one of Argentina's popular figures.
Though Argentinean fans, as like all other football-lovers, might have been lucky to see the player during their lifetime, they want him to play for some more years in national colours. Some of the Argentina fans compare the legend to god as well.
"He has to come back - excuse the emotion - but it's what I feel. For me, he's exceptional, a god," Reuters quoted Messi's fan, Juan Alberto Salas, as saying.
"There's a saying that there's a Messi every 500 million years and we're enjoying that, so we have to be grateful that we live in this time," another fan, Santiago Bordero said.
Messi might not have a won a silverware, playing for Argentina, but he has been one of their best players for quite some time. The Barcelona forward has scored a number of important goals for both his club and country. In the recently concluded Copa America 2016, Messi also became Argentina's all-time highest goal scorer, with 55 goals as well.
But, it was after the final of the Copa America, which Argentina lost to Chile in penalties, the forward announced his retirement from international football. Such a decision was surprising, for the player, 29, still has some more years left in him.
Such kind of support pouring from his fans, and also famous personalities might prompt Messi to come out of retirement. Time will tell if we will see Messi in blue and white stripes again.